The Federal Government’s announcement of $50 million to wildlife affected by the bushfire crisis is nowhere near enough and should be at least ten times as much, the Greens say.

Greens Spokesperson for Animal Welfare, Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:

“The Government is taking a miserly approach to our iconic wildlife.

Australian Greens Senator for NSW and Animal Welfare Spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has called for State and Federal Governments to provide immediate support for wildlife carers and sanctuaries who are working day and night to save lives. An estimated half a billion animals have been killed in the fires in New South Wales alone so far.

Senator Faruqi said:

Australian Greens Senator and Animal Welfare Spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has released figures showing that The Gardens outside Newcastle is the deadliest track in New South Wales. The second deadliest tracks were Gosford, Nowra and Lismore with six deaths each. Wagga Wagga was the most likely for a dog to die, with one in five race meets resulting in a dead greyhound.

Australian Greens Senator for NSW, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has visited Port Macquarie. The Senator, who formerly lived and worked in Port Macquarie, has visited the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital and called for more support for communities and firefighters.

Senator Faruqi said:

“Port Macquarie is my second home and my heart really goes out to the community who have suffered so much in and around the mid-north coast. We are seeing an unprecedented tragedy that has destroyed so much in the community and in the environment.

Australian Greens Senator and Animal Welfare Spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has responded to reports hundreds of Australian cattle sold for breeding to the Indonesian Government in 2018 are malnourished or dead. This new scandal has highlighted the lack of protections for breeder and dairy cattle. Senator Faruqi has called for the release of the full report into the incident.

Senator Faruqi said:

Greens Spokesperson for Animal Welfare, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has reacted to Million Dollar Chase “consolation winner” Nangar Jack testing positive for EPO.

She said:

“This incident confirms that greyhound racing has not and cannot clean up its act. The trainer should be punished and banned, but this is not remotely an isolated incident. To protect greyhounds, this cruel industry must be shut down once and for all.

Australian Greens Senator and Animal Welfare Spokesperson, Senator Mehreen Faruqi and The Greens (WA) spokesperson for Animal Welfare Hon. Alison Xamon MLC have responded to the abhorrent allegations of animal abuse on Western Australian cattle farms that were revealed in an investigation by Sentient Media. 

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

   (i) fires have ravaged Australia before the start of summer with more than 1,650,000 hectares of land, including koala habitat, burned in New South Wales,

   (ii) between 350 and 1000 koalas have been found dead so far on the North and Mid-North coast of New South Wales, and

   (iii) koalas are listed as a vulnerable species under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999; and

Australian Greens Animal Welfare Spokesperson, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has welcomed the Senate Inquiry report calling on the Federal Government to establish a horse traceability scheme. Senator Faruqi established the inquiry in February and has been a leading voice for the establishment of a register to protect horses. 

I rise to take note of the report on the feasibility of a National Horse Traceability Register for all horses, and I want to start by saying how excited I am that we are at the point of unanimous recommendations from Liberal, Labor and Nationals—and, of course, the Greens—that we need a National Horse Traceability Register in Australia. As the report shows, there are so many benefits that will come from having this register. To think that we don't even know how many horses there are in Australia at the moment really is an eye-opener.